English Chess Forum

Great to see the Shropshire Congress back for 2023! Well done Phil, for getting it back up and running. Looks like it may continue to compete for the best food at any congress as well as excellent playing conditions and a friendly organising team.

Go on, enter - you know you want to.

Shocked and desperately saddened at the loss of Colin who has been a stalwart of Shropshire chess since starting as a junior. He always displayed a great sense of humour and a formidable opponent across the chess board. I recall many games with Colin, none of them dull, and all to often he would lul...

Another very successful event in Shropshire this weekend with 145 entrants and a new fourth section to enhance the competition. OPEN 1 Alan Merry IM (5) 2= Ameet Ghasi IM, Stephen Gordon GM (4) Under 2000 grading prize Tim Holton, Nathanael Paul. Richard Webster, Phil Zabrocki (2.5) Top Shropshire p...

No problem from my point of view. Delighted for people to have access to the live game pgns. Final result saw Alan Merry take the Open title again, this time with a 5/5 score, although he definitely had to work hard for it. Congratulations to him and all the winners. Will post a summary of all resul...

... and I was standing next to two IMs (who shall remain nameless) who didn't spot it either. Although they were clear that 34 Rc7 didn't work. Final round pairings on top boards: 1 Merry, Alan B 2418 [4] v Macklin, Paul 2329 [3½] 2 Player, Edmund C 2174 [3½] v Ghasi, Ameet K 2475 [3] 3 Gordon, Step...

An intriguing poisition on board 2 this morning. The king march doesn't look like a voluntary one (IMHO). [FEN "r5k1/pp1q2bp/2p5/3p2PK/3np3/2NQ3P/PPP3P1/R4R2 w - - 0 23"] Also some fiery stuff on board one as the joint leaders both chase the full point. [FEN "7r/p3k1pp/1pbrpq2/2Q5/P1B5/2p5/2P2PPP/R3...

Thanks Jonathan

Yes, Jeremy Fallowfield had a good run and has only just slipped off the live boards for next round. All set for an exciting final day in the Open with Sophie Milliet and Alan Merry joint leaders on 3/3 paired for round 4, and a hungry pack following.

Live games, pairings and results here http://www.shrewsburychessclub.org/live-chess/ Apologies for not posting this before round 1 - hope some of you found it anyway - some interesting clashes including a tough night for top seed Stephen Gordon and a challenging start for a number of other titled pl...

Thanks Roger. Yes a healthy and strong entry. Current total is 138 - still room for more but you'll have to hurry, entries close at noon tomorrow (Fri). The Open has nine titled players including recent entries from Ameet Ghasi and John-Paul Wallace. As far as I'm aware Keith is the only one coming ...

The 2018 Shropshire Congress is now open for entries. The event takes place on 5-7 January 2018, at our regular venue, the Wrekin Housing Trust, Telford TF3 4AW. We are introducing an additional section this year which means there is a FIDE-rated Open, and ECF-graded Major (U170), Intermediate (U140...

Delighted to see Shropshire player Athar Ansari equal first with 4.5/5 in the Amateur A.

A exciting final round saw Alan Merry IM emerge as the sole winner of the Shropshire Open 2017 winning the £1,000 first prize. GM Keith Arkell was joined by Andrew Horton FM in second place. In the Major there was a four-way tie for first place - Athar Ansari, John Gorman, Peter Lovatt and Nigel Tow...

Alan Merry has won on board one putting him on 4.5.

Arkell has R+4 against R+2 so looks like Alan may be sole winner. But it's not over till the ...

John Moore wrote:Graeme missed an amazing forced draw against Keith with a double Rook sacrifice with 29 .. Rf2 followed by 30 .. Rf4. I saw the idea and couldn't believe it so had to stick Junior on. It does seem to work.

Interesting line John, well spotted.

Arkell-Horton was drawn, so three on 3.5 going into last round - Bucknell, Cox and Merry.